Mail-deliverer.



No. 721,550. .PATENTED FEB. 24, 1 9.03.

F. M. EDWARDS.

MAIL DELIVBRBR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 11, 1902.

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PATENTED FEB. 24, 1903.

F. MJEDWARDS. MAIL DELIVERER. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 11, 1902. X0 IODBL.2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

lung/4% A I llllllllll I 0 I'NVENTOB' fianczlfjlzag'werds By H ATTQHNErs.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS M. EDWARDS, OF NEW YORK, "N. Y.

MAlL-DELlVERER."

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Fatent No. 721,550, dated February24, 1903.

I Application filed August 11,1902; Serial No. 119,231. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS M. EDWARDS, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, in thecounty and State of New York, have invented a new and ImprovedMail-Deliverer, of which the following is a full, -clear, and exactdescription.

The purpose of the invention is to provide a simple, durable, andeconomic mail-deliverer capable of ready attachment to the door jamb ofany mail-car and which will not in-' terfere with the use of the door,and, furthermore, to so construct the device that a mailbag may bequickly and conveniently attached thereto at the top and bottom of thebag, the fastening device employed ofiering no obstruction to the safeand expeditious struction and combination of the severalparts, as willbe'hereinafter fully set forth,

' and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to'the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similarcharacters of reference indicatecorrespondingparts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a vertical section through a side of a mail-car and thedoorway in which the deliverer is located, showing the deliverer holdinga mail-bag in its outer or delivering position, and a side elevation ofa crane, rep-- resented as about to receive the delivered bag and aboutto deliver the bag to the catcher- Fig. 2 is a side elevaarm of themail-car. tion of a portion of a mail-car and its side doorway and afront elevation of the deliverer holding a mail-bag within the doorway.Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken between the top and bottom of thedeliverer when in its outer position. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectionalview of a portion of the car and a side elevation of a portion of themail-deliverer. .Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a part of a mailcar and asectional side elevation of the lower portion of a slightly-modifiedform of the mail-deliverer. Fig. 6 is'a side elevation of a mail-craneused in connection with the deliverer. Fig. 7 is a transversesectionthrough the crane and a plan view of the receivingarm thereof. Fig. 8 isan enlarged side elevation of that portion of the crane to which thereceiving-armfis attached. "Fig. 9 is a sectional side elevation of theparts shown in Fig. 8, the pivot-plate forthe receiving-arm beingremoved. Fig. 10 is a-sectional side elevation of the lower adj ustable.portion of the crane, and Fig. 11 is a side elevation of thebag-retaining member of the delivery-.

arms for the crane.

A represents a side of the mail-car, and B the side doorway throughwhich the mail-bags are received and from which the mail-bags aredelivered. At the upper portion of the doorway a fixed shaftor rod 10 issecured, and on the said rod a carrier 11 is mounted to slide and turn.This carrier supports a mail-catcher 12, which mail-catcher and carrierform the subject-matter of a separate application filed concurrentherewith.-

, The mail-deliverer consists of an upright body-section 13, which isusually made of angle-iron, as is shown in Fig. 3; but it may beotherwise constructed, and at the intersection of the members of thesaid upright or body 13 upper and'lower lugs 14 are produced, the upperlug having a hinged or pivotal connection through the mediumuof asuitable pin with an angular bracket 15, se-

cured to the door-jamb of the door-opening B, and the lower lug 15 ispivotally attached to the horizontal member 16 of an angular bracket 17,also secured to the door-'jamb.

The said horizontal member 16 of the lower bracket 17 is more or lesssegmental and rests upon the floor ofthe car at the aforesaiddooropening B.

The upright standard or body-section 13 of the mail-deliverer isprovided'about centrally or at any desired point between its top andbottom portions with a handle 18, which handle extends out from themember of the body 13 which faces the inside of the car when themail-deliverer is in delivering position; as is shown in Fig. 3, andupon this handle 18 a lever 19 is fnlcrumed, adapted to be operated bythe hand gripping the handle, or the said lever 19 may be fulcrumeddirectly to the standard or body 13, if desired, as is shown in Fig. 3.From one end of the said lever 19 a chain or cord 20 or its equivalentextends downward to an engagement with a spring-latch lug 21, whichspring-latch lug extends through a second bottom lug 21, extending fromthe inner surface of the member of the standard or body which faces theinside of the car when the mail-deliverer is in delivering position, asis shown in Fig. 3. This spring-latch lug is adapted to enter any one oftwo or more recesses or apertures 22, produced in the bottom member 16of the lower pivotal bracket 17 for the device. W'hen the mail-delivereris in delivering position, as is shown in Fig. 3, the spring-latch lug21 will enter the outermost aperture or recess 22, and when the saidmail-deliverer is brought within the door-opening I3 and is practicallyout of use the said spring-latch lug 21 will enter the innermost recessor aperture 22. In this manner the device may be readily shifted from aninner to an outer position and will be securely held in either of thetwo positions.

Arms 0 for supporting a mail-bag E are pivoted at the top and at thebottom of the upright or body 13, and under the construction of the body13, as is illustrated in Fig. 3,the pivot-pins for the arms 0 extendthrough what may be termed the outer member of the body 13 and lugs 22,formed upon or attached to the inner member of said body. Springs 23 arecoiled around the pivot-pins for the arms 0, engaging at one end withthe body-standard 13 and at their opposite ends with the arms 0, theengagement of the springs with the arms 0 being such that said springstend to normally force the arms 0 upward to a substantially verticalposition, as is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. The arms 0 areoppositely curved or are curved in direction of each other to a greateror less extent, and preferably each arm 0 is made in two sections, aninner section 24 and an outer section 25, adjustable upon the innersection. The inner section 24 of each arm is provided with alongitudinal groove 26, in which the inner end of the outer section isadapted to slide, and the outer section 25 of each arm is provided witha longitudinal slot 27. The two sections of the arms are held inadjusted position by bolts and washers 28, which bolts pass through theslots 27 of the outer sections 25 of the arms 0 and are preferablysecured to the inner sections 24 of said arms. Thus it may be observedthat the arms 0 may be extended as occasion may require.

Each arm 0 is provided with a device for engagement with the loops atthe ends of the mail-bag D. In Fig. 5 I have illustrated the ordinaryforked support 2!); but the preferred support for the bag D and used inconnection with the arms 0 is designated as G and is shown in detail inFig. 11. It consists of a body-bloclr 30, provided, preferably, with ascrew extension 31, so that the bag-supporting device may be attached tothe end of the arm 0 or to a side portion of the arm, as may be founddesirable, and a horizontal bar 32 is made to entera slot in thebody-block 30, being pivotally secured in the said slot by a suitablebolt 33, while a spring 34 is attached at one end to the upper portionof the block 30 and extends downward at its opposite end to anengagement with the supporting-bar 32. The loop of a mail-bag D ispassed over the supporting-bar 32 and is prevented from accidentallyslipping from the said bar by the spring 34; but the moment that themail-bag D is engaged by a catcheuarm on a crane, for example, thesupporting-bars 32 will turn on their pivots and will be disengaged fromthe retaining-springs 34c, enabling the bag to readily slip off fromsupporting engagement with the said bars.

In Fig. 5 I have illustrated a slight modification in the constructionof the.body portion of the device, inasmuch as the body 13" is of asingle piece of metal and is provided at the top and bottom with boxprojections 35, in which the spring-controlled arms 0 are mounted, thearms being constructed as has been heretofore described. At the upperand lower portions of the body 13 lugs 36 are formed, provided withpivot-pins 3'7, which are secured in plates 38, one of which is attachedto the bottom of a car and the other to the jainb of the doorway asuitable distance above the floor. The lower lug 36 is provided withapertures 39, corresponding to the apertures or recesses 22 in thebottom bracket 17, heretofore described, and these apertures 39 areadapted to receive a member of a U-shaped lock-lever 40, provided at itsopposite member with a horizontal extension 41 above the floor of thecar and a spring 4-2 between the said extension and the floor, so thatby pressing down on the extension 41 with the foot, for example, thelocking member of the locking device is carried out of engagement withone of the recesses or apertures 39 and may be brought into engagementwith the second aperture or recess. Two of the said apertures orrecesses are employed, one being brought into use in connection with thelocking device 40 to lock the mail-deliverer in an outer or deliveringposition and the other to lock the mail-deliverer in an inner positionWithin the doorway B.

The crane E, which is used in connection with the mail-deliverer,consists of a bodysection 4:3,preferably tnbular,which is mounted toturn in an air-tight manner in a socketsection 44 of the base 45, thebody-section of the crane being provided with a dust-cap 46, whichextends over the top of the socket, c0mpletely closing and sealing it,yet admitting of the body turning in the socket. A series of exteriorcircumferentially-arranged lugs 47 is located on the upper portion ofthe socket-section 44 of the base 45, and a locklever 48 is pivoted tothe lug extending from the body 43 of the framebf the dust-cap 46, andthe said lock-lever is provided with a slot 50 of sufficient size toreceive one of the lugs 47, so that when the body of the crane is turnedupon the base the lever 48, at such time being out of engagement withthe lugs 47, can be quickly carried down to receive a lug in its slot50, and thus secure the'body portion of the crane in its adjustedposition.

At the upper portion of the body 430E the crane E two sleeves 51 arelocated at suitable distances apart. These sleevesmay be eitherpermanently attached to the body portion of the crane or may beadjustablysecu red theret0. bracket 52 is formed, and between eachbracket and sleeve 51' a s priug-controlled arm C is pivotally mounted,which arms areof the same construction as'the arms C,described inconnection with the mail-deliverer: Each arm 0 of the crane is providedat its outer end with a'bag-supporting device 0', such as has beendescribed and which is shown in Fig. 11, and such bag-supporting devicesmay be at the outer extremity ofeach arm or may be attached at theside'portions of the-arms near their outer ends. These supportingdevices 0 receive the loops at the ends of the-mailbag D, adapted to betaken into the -car through the medium of the catcher-arm carried by thecar, whatever the construction of such arm may be. The body portion ofthe crane is also provided with a catcher-arm F. This catcher-armconsists of two substantially parallel members 53 and 54, connected atone end by a curved member 55, and the outer member 54'o'f 't'hecatcher-arm F at its receiving end is inclined away from the opposingmember 53. A spring-controlled finger 56 is pivoted to the member 53 ofthe catcherarm and engages with the opposing member 54, and when a bagenters the space between the members of the catcher-arm it forces thelocking-finger 56 inward, which finger after the bag has passed turnsautomatically to its normal position, preventing the bag from leavingthe catcher-arm. This catcher-arm F is in a horizontal position when inaction and when it is placed to receive the bag; but after the bag hasentered the said arm it antomatically drops to a vertical position, thebag at such time resting on the connecting member 55. To that end thecatcher-arm F is mounted in the following manner:

A sleeve 57 is suitably placed upon the body-section 43 of the crane E,and the sleeve may be held adjustable on the said body-sec tion of thecrane bya set-screw 58, as is shown in Fig. 6; but preferably the saidsleeve rests upon a collar 59, which is attached to or made integralwith the body portion of the crane. In the under portion of the sleeve57 any desired number of recesses 60 are pro- At the same side of eachsleeve'5l a' duced, as is shown in Fig. 9, which recesses are adapted toreceive a spring-controlled latch 61, also shown in Fig. 9, carried bythe collar 59, which latch is adapted to be withdrawn from lockingengagement with the sleeve 57 through the medium of aring 62 or & At oneouter face of the sleeve 57 a plain disk surface 63 is formed, and inthis disk surface an upper shallow recess 64 is produced land a lowerdeeper recess 65, which is at one side ofthecenter of'the said disksurface, as is illustrated also'in Fig. 9.

A disk 66 is mounted to turn in engagement with the disk surface 63 ofthe sleeve 57 through the medium of a suitable central pivot-pin 67, asis shown in Fig. 8, and this disk 66 is provided with lugs 68, betweenwhich lugs the inner member 53 of the catcher-arm F is secured aboutcent-rally between the ends thereof.

A'spring-latch 69 is carried by the disk 66,'

the latch being capable of being withdrawn from'the exteriorof thesleeve-support for the said catcher-arm. The inner end of the latch 69is more or less rounded and is adapted-to enter the recesses 64 and 65.

NVhen the catcher-arm F is in its horizontal or receiving position, thelatch 69 enters the shallowrecess 64 in theplain surface of the sleeve57,and whenthe bag is received by the catcher arm the shock incident tosuch disk 66- to turn until the catcher-arm has assumed a verticalposition with its closed end downward, at which time the latch 69 willenter the deeper recess 65 and will hold the catcher-arm in its verticalposition, the bag being removed therefrom whenever convenient.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. A device for handling mail-bags, consisting of anupright mounted to turn, a locking device for the upright,spring-controlled extensible bag carrying arms pivotally mounted on theupright and each comprising two curved sections, one of the sectionsbeing provided with a longitudinal groove in which the other isadjustably secured, and bag-retaining devices at the outer end portionsof the said arms, which retaining devices automatically act to releasethe bag when the bag is subjected to a withdrawal pressure, asdescribed.

2. A device for handling mail-bags, consisting of an upright mounted toturn, a looking device for the upright, bag-carrying arms curved indirection of each other pivotally mounted upon the upright and eachcomprising two sections, the inner section being provided with alongitudinal groove, and the outer one with a longitudinal slot andfitting in the groove of the inner section and bolts securing thesections together, springs acting to normally carry the said arms to asubstantially upright position, and means substantially as described forfreeing a bag from retaining engagement with the said arms when the bagis subjected to withdrawal pressure, as described.

3. A device for handling mail-bags, consisting of an upright mounted toturn, a locking device for the upright, bag-carrying arms curved indirection of each other and pivotally mounted on the upright, springsacting to normally carry the said arms in an upward direction, and abag-retaining device connected with the arms, comprising a pivoted barto receive a loop of a bag and a spring having free bearing upon theouter end portion of the bar.

4. In devices for handling mail-bags, the combination with an uprightmou nted to turn, and a locking device for the lower portion of theupright, acting at the base portion thereof, of spring-controlledextensible arms pivotally attached to the said upright and eachcomprising two curved sections one of which is provided with alongitudinal groove in which the end of the other is adjustably held,the springs of the said arms being adapted to normally force the saidarms apart, as and for the purpose specified.

5. In devices for handling mail-bags, a maildeliverer consisting of apivoted upright, a locking device for the upright, spring-controlledpivoted arms carried by the upright, adapted to hold the mail-bagbetween them, a crane adapted to act in conjunction with the saidmail-deliverer and provided with a catcher-arm mounted to turn upon thecrane in a horizontal direction, and likewise mounted to turnautomatically in a vertical direction, for the purpose described.

6. In a device for handling mail-bags, a crane, a sleeve mounted to turnon the said crane, a support for the said sleeve, a latch device carriedby the support, adapted to enter recesses in the sleeve, the said sleevebein g provided with a smooth outer surface having a shallow and a deeprecess therein, a plate mounted to turn upon the saidrecessed face ofthe sleeve, a spring-latch carried by the said plate, and adapted toenter the said recesses, and a catcher-arm attached to the said plate,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

7. In a device for handling mail-bags, a vertical support, and acatcher-arm mounted to turn upon the support in a horizontal directionand likewise mounted to turn automatically in a vertical direction, asset forth.

D 8. In a device for handling mail-bags, a vertical support, a sleevemounted to turn on the support, a disk mounted to turn on the sleeve,and a catcher-arm carried by the disk, as set forth.

9. In a device for handling mail-bags, a vertical support, a-sleevemounted to turn on the support, a disk mounted to turn on the sleeve, acatcher-arm carried by the disk, and means for locking the disk to thesleeve so that it will be automatically released by the weight of themail-bag carried by the catcherarm as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANCIS M. EDWARDS.

Witnesses:

J. FRED. ACKER, EVERARD BOLTON MARSHALL.

